Front controls for gas cooking range

ABSTRACT

A gas cooking range having a first oven and a second oven positioned above the first oven. A cooktop is positioned between a manifold and an upper panel. The cooktop includes a gas burner. The manifold has mounted thereto a knob operable to control the gas burner.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a gas cooking range and more particularly to gas cooking ranges with gas control devices.

BACKGROUND

A gas cooking range is used to cook meals and other foodstuffs on a cooking surface or within an oven. The range uses natural gas or propane fuel to create a controlled flame that generates the heat necessary for cooking. Ranges typically include various control valves, control knobs, and electronics to regulate the flow of gas.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect, a gas cooking range includes a first oven, a second oven positioned above the first oven, a laterally extending control manifold positioned above the second oven, a laterally extending upper panel, and a cooktop positioned between the control manifold and the upper panel. The control manifold has a knob mounted thereon. The upper panel is positioned above the second oven and has a control surface operable to control the operation of the first oven and the second oven. The cooktop has a cooking surface positioned above a gas burner. The knob mounted on the control manifold is operable to control the operation of the gas burner.

In some embodiments, the knob may have a face that is positioned perpendicular to the cooking surface when the knob is mounted on the control manifold. In some embodiments, the knob may have a face that is positioned at an angle relative to the cooking surface when the knob is mounted on the control manifold. Additionally, in some embodiments, the control manifold may have a lower surface and the cooktop may have a bottom surface opposite the cooking surface that is coplanar with the lower surface of the control manifold.

In some embodiments, the control manifold may have a front surface and a rear surface, and the knob may be mounted on the front surface of the control manifold. The cooktop may extend away from the rear surface of the control manifold. The cooktop may have a grate positioned above the gas burner between the rear surface of the control manifold and the upper panel. The grate may have a top surface that defines the cooking surface.

According to another aspect, a gas cooking range includes a first oven having a first gas-fired heating element operable to heat the first oven and a second oven positioned above the first oven. The second oven has a second gas-fired heating element operable to heat the second oven. The gas cooking range also includes a laterally extending upper panel positioned above the second oven, which has a control surface operable to control the operation of the first gas-fired heating element and the second gas-fired heating element. The gas cooking range includes a laterally extending manifold positioned above the second oven having a front surface and a rear surface. A cooktop is positioned between the manifold and the upper panel. The cooktop extends away from the rear surface of the manifold and has a cooking surface positioned above a gas burner. A control knob operable to control the operation of the gas burner is mounted on the front surface of the manifold.

In some embodiments, the control knob may have a face that is positioned parallel to the front surface of the manifold when the control knob is mounted on the front surface. The face is positioned perpendicular to the cooking surface when the control knob is mounted on the front surface. In some embodiments, the face is positioned parallel to the front surface of the manifold and positioned at an angle relative to the cooking surface when the control knob is mounted on the front surface.

The first oven may have a first cooking rack positioned above the first gas-fired heating element, and the second oven may have a second cooking rack positioned above the second gas-fired heating element. The first oven may have a first door operable to allow a user to access the first cooking rack, and the second oven may have a second door operable to allow a user to access the second cooking rack.

According to another aspect, a gas cooking range includes a housing, a first oven secured to the housing, a second oven secured to the housing and positioned above the first oven, and an upper panel extending upwardly from a laterally extending base secured to the housing. The upper panel is positioned above the second oven and has a control surface operable to control the operation of the first oven and the second oven. A laterally extending manifold is positioned above the second oven and has front surface and a rear surface. A control knob is mounted on the front surface of the manifold, and a cooktop is positioned between the manifold and the base of the upper panel. The cooktop extends away from the rear surface of the manifold. The cooktop includes a cooking surface positioned above a gas burner, and the control knob is operable to control the operation of the gas burner.

In some embodiments, the control knob may be mounted on the front surface of the manifold perpendicular to the cooking surface. In some embodiments, the control knob may be mounted on the front surface of the manifold at an angle relative to the cooking surface.

The manifold may have a lower surface extending from the front surface to the rear surface, and the cooktop may have a bottom surface opposite the cooking surface that is coplanar with the lower surface of the manifold.

The first oven may have a first gas-fired heating element operable to heat the first oven, and the second oven may have a second gas-fired heating element operable to heat the second oven. The control surface on the upper panel may be operable to control the operation of the first gas-fired heating element and the second gas-fired heating element.

In some embodiments, the cooktop may include a grate positioned above the gas burner. The grate may be positioned between the rear surface of the control manifold and the base of the upper panel. The grate may have a top surface that defines the cooking surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the following figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a gas cooking range;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation view of the gas cooking range of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a gas cooking range.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the concepts of the present disclosure are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific exemplary embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the concepts of the present disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1, a gas cooking range assembly 10 (hereinafter range 10) includes a lower frame 12 and an upper panel 14. The lower frame 12 includes a number of downwardly extending legs 16 configured to contact a floor of a house (not shown). The legs 16 are located in each corner of the lower frame 12 and are adjustable to allow the user to level the range 10 to compensate for any tilt or angle of the floor.

A housing 18 extends upwardly from the lower frame 12. The upper panel 14 has a laterally extending base 20 that is secured to the housing 18. A lower oven 22 and an upper oven 24 are accessible from the front of the housing 18. The oven 22 has a cooking chamber (not shown) into which pans, sheets, or other cookware carrying food items are placed to be heated. The cooking chamber includes a rack 26 located therein. A door assembly 28 is hinged to the front of the housing 18 and permits access to the rack 26. The oven 22 has a baking element 30 that is configured to provide heat for baking or otherwise cooking food items placed on the rack 26. In the illustrative embodiment, the baking element 30 is a gas-fired bake burner. It should be appreciated that in other embodiments the baking element 30 may be an electric heating element.

The upper oven 24 is positioned above the lower oven 22 and below the base 20 of the upper panel 14. The upper oven 24 has a cooking chamber (not shown) into which pans, sheets, or other cookware carrying food are placed to be heated. The cooking chamber includes a rack 32 located therein. A door assembly 34 is hinged to the front of the housing 18 and permits access to the rack 32. The oven 24 has a baking element 36 that is configured to provide heat for baking or otherwise cooking food items located on the rack 32. In the illustrative embodiment, the baking element 36 is a gas-fired bake burner. It should be appreciated that in other embodiments the baking element 36 may be an electric heating element.

A user may control the operation of the ovens 22, 24 using a control interface 38 located on the upper panel 14 above the base 20. The control interface 38 includes a display 40 and a set of push buttons 42 that are connected to an automated control system (not shown) operable to control the operation of the ovens 22, 24. For example, the user may use the control interface 38 to set a desired temperature for each oven. The automated control system responds by igniting a flame within each of the baking elements 30, 36 and adjusting the flow of gas as necessary to heat the ovens 22, 24 to the desired temperatures. The amount of heat generated in the cooking chambers of each oven is proportionate to the amount of gas flowing to the baking elements 30, 36.

A cooktop 50 is positioned above the upper oven 24. The cooktop 50 is positioned between the base 20 of the upper panel 14 and a laterally extending manifold 52 positioned at the front of the housing 18. The cooktop 50 includes a top surface 54 and a bottom surface 56. A number of gas burners 58 extend through the top surface 54. A burner grate 60 is positioned above each of the gas burners 58, and the burner grates 60 define a cooking surface 62.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the manifold 52 is positioned above the door assembly 34 of the upper oven 24. The manifold 52 has a front surface 64, a rear surface 66, and a lower surface 68 extending from the front surface 64 to the rear surface 66. The bottom surface 56 of the cooktop 50 is coplanar with the lower surface 68 of the manifold 52. The cooktop 50 and the grates 60 are positioned behind the rear surface 66 of the manifold 52. The cooktop 50 extends away from the rear surface 66 of the manifold 52 to the base 20 of the upper panel 14.

A set of knobs 70 are mounted on the front surface 64 of the manifold 52. Each knob 70 has a face 72 with a grip 74 extending outwardly from the face 72. It should be appreciated that in other embodiments each knob 70 may be shaped as a cylinder or oval without a grip 74 extending outwardly from the face 72. Each knob 70 is mounted on the front surface 64 such that the face 72 is parallel to the front surface 64 and perpendicular to the cooking surface 62.

The knobs 70 are operable to control the flow of gas to the gas burners 58. The burners 58 are configured to generate controlled flames that may be used to heat cooking utensils (i.e., pots and pans) placed on the grates 60. The burners 58 and grates 60 are arranged on the cooking surface 62 such that a user can simultaneously heat pots, pans, skillets, and the like. The magnitude of the flame generated by the burners 58 is proportionate to the amount of gas flowing to the burners 58. A user may adjust the flow of gas to the burners 58 using the set of knobs 70 that are mounted on the front surface 64 of the manifold 52. As the user rotates each of the knobs 70, a gas control valve (not shown) changes the amount of gas flowing to the corresponding burner 58.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the range 10 is shown with a different embodiment of a manifold (hereinafter referenced as a manifold 152). Some features of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 are substantially similar to those discussed above in reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. Such features are designated in FIG. 3 with the same reference numbers as those used in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The laterally extending manifold 152 is positioned above a door assembly 34 of an upper oven 24 at the front of a housing 18. The manifold 152 has a front surface 164 and a lower surface 168 extending from the front surface 164 to a rear surface (not shown) of the manifold 152. A bottom surface 56 of a cooktop 50 is coplanar with the lower surface 168 of the manifold 152. The cooktop 50 is positioned between the manifold 152 and a base 20 of an upper panel 14. The cooktop 50 and a number of burner grates 60 are positioned behind the rear surface of the manifold 152. The cooktop 50 extends away from the rear surface of the manifold 152.

A set of knobs 170 is mounted on the front surface 164 of the manifold 152. Each knob 170 has a face 174 with a grip 172 extending outwardly from the face 174. It should be appreciated that in other embodiments each knob 170 may be shaped as a cylinder or oval without a grip 172 extending outwardly from the face 174. Each knob 170 is mounted on the front surface 164 such that the face 174 is parallel to the front surface 164 and at an angle relative to a cooking surface 62, which is defined by the number of grates 60, which are positioned above each of a number of gas burners 58.

There are a plurality of advantages of the present disclosure arising from the various features of the method, apparatus, and system described herein. It will be noted that alternative embodiments of the method, apparatus, and system of the present disclosure may not include all of the features described yet still benefit from at least some of the advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise their own implementations of the method, apparatus, and system that incorporate one or more of the features of the present invention and fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A gas cooking range, comprising: a first oven, a second oven positioned above the first oven, a laterally extending control manifold positioned above the second oven, the control manifold having a knob mounted thereon, a laterally extending upper panel positioned above the second oven, the upper panel having a control surface operable to control the operation of the first oven and the second oven, and a cooktop positioned between the control manifold and the upper panel, the cooktop having a cooking surface positioned above a gas burner, wherein the knob is operable to control the operation of the gas burner.
 2. The gas cooking range of claim 1, wherein the knob has a face that is positioned perpendicular to the cooking surface when the knob is mounted on the control manifold.
 3. The gas cooking range of claim 1, wherein the knob has a face that is positioned at an angle relative to the cooking surface when the knob is mounted on the control manifold.
 4. The gas cooking range of claim 1, wherein: the control manifold has a lower surface, and the cooktop has a bottom surface opposite the cooking surface that is coplanar with the lower surface of the control manifold.
 5. The gas cooking range of claim 1, wherein the control manifold has a front surface and a rear surface, and the knob is mounted on the front surface of the control manifold.
 6. The gas cooking range of claim 5, wherein the cooktop further has: a grate positioned above the gas burner, the grate being positioned between the rear surface of the control manifold and the upper panel, and the grate having a top surface that defines the cooking surface.
 7. The gas cooking range of claim 5, wherein the cooktop extends away from the rear surface of the control manifold.
 8. A gas cooking range, comprising: a first oven having a first gas-fired heating element operable to heat the first oven, a second oven positioned above the first oven, the second oven having a second gas-fired heating element operable to heat the second oven, a laterally extending upper panel positioned above the second oven, the upper panel having a control surface operable to control the operation of the first gas-fired heating element and the second gas-fired heating element, a laterally extending manifold positioned above the second oven, the manifold having a front surface and a rear surface, a control knob mounted on the front surface of the manifold, and a cooktop positioned between the manifold and the upper panel, the cooktop extending away from the rear surface of the manifold and having a cooking surface positioned above a gas burner, wherein the control knob is operable to control the operation of the gas burner.
 9. The gas cooking range of claim 8, wherein the control knob has a face, and the face is positioned parallel to the front surface of the manifold and positioned perpendicular to the cooking surface of the cooktop when the control knob is mounted on the front surface.
 10. The gas cooking range of claim 8, wherein the control knob has a face, and the face is positioned parallel to the front surface of the manifold and positioned at an angle relative to the cooking surface of the cooktop when the control knob is mounted on the front surface.
 11. The gas cooking range of claim 8, wherein: the first oven has a first cooking rack positioned above the first gas-fired heating element, and the second oven has a second cooking rack positioned above the second gas-fired heating element.
 12. The gas cooking range of claim 11, wherein: the first oven has a first door, the first door being operable to allow a user to access the first cooking rack, and the second oven has a second door, the second door being operable to allow a user to access the second cooking rack.
 13. A gas cooking range, comprising: a housing, a first oven secured to the housing, a second oven secured to the housing and positioned above the first oven, an upper panel extending upwardly from a laterally extending base secured to the housing, the upper panel being positioned above the second oven and having a control surface operable to control the operation of the first oven and the second oven, a laterally extending manifold positioned above the second oven, the manifold having a front surface and a rear surface, a control knob mounted on the front surface of the manifold, and a cooktop positioned between the manifold and the base of the upper panel, the cooktop extending away from the rear surface of the manifold to the base of the upper panel and including a cooking surface positioned above a gas burner, wherein the control knob is operable to control the operation of the gas burner.
 14. The gas cooking range of claim 13, wherein the control knob is mounted on the front surface of the manifold perpendicular to the cooking surface.
 15. The gas cooking range of claim 13, wherein the control knob is mounted on the front surface of the manifold at an angle relative to the cooking surface.
 16. The gas cooking range of claim 13, wherein: the manifold has a lower surface extending from the front surface to the rear surface, and the cooktop has a bottom surface opposite the cooking surface that is coplanar with the lower surface of the manifold.
 17. The gas cooking range of claim 13, wherein: the first oven has a first gas-fired heating element operable to heat the first oven, the second oven has a second gas-fired heating element operable to heat the second oven, and the control surface on the upper panel is operable to control the operation of the first gas-fired heating element and the second gas-fired heating element.
 18. The gas cooking range of claim 13, wherein the cooktop further has: a grate positioned above the gas burner, the grate being positioned between the rear surface of the control manifold and the base of the upper panel, and the grate having a top surface that defines the cooking surface. 